Float-valve.



G. H. BEE-BE.

FLOAT VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1913.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

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urnio STATES GEORGE H. BEEBE, OF MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO FISHERGOVERNOR COMPANY, OF MARSI-IALLTOWN, IOWA.

FLOAT-VALVE.

Application filed July 21, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE H. BEEBE, acitizen of the United States, and residing at Marshalltown, in thecounty of Marshall and State of Iowa, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Float Valves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to float valves and has for an object to providean efficient, practical and satisfactory device of the class described.

Among the particular objects of the invention, it is desired to providea float valve to control the connection between an open tank orstand-pipe and the steam pump for filling the same; also to provide anefficient and practical arrangement wherein, as soon as water is drawnfrom the tank, the valve will remain open until the tank has emptied toits emptying limit,

and wherein the valve will remain open ready for the pump to refill thetank, and will automatically close when the valve reaches its fulllimit, and furthermore to provide an efficient means for allowing thevalve to gently return to its seat when automatically closing therebyavoiding the so called water hammer and its damaging consequences.

These and other features, advantages and capabilities of the inventionwill become apparent from a detailed description of one specificembodiment of the same in which Figure 1 is an illustration of a watertank system equipped with the improved device. Fig. 2 is an enlargeddetail in elevation of the check valve, and Fig. 3 is a cross-section onthe line 33 of Fig. 2.

In the construction shown, A is a water tank of usual construction whichis connected by a suitable pipe connection B to a steam pump O. Fromthis pipe connection B extend the usual pipe branches D, D for asprinkler system, factory, railroad tanks, and general use.

The valve which forms an important part of the present invention has ashell or body 10 which is cup-shaped and is secured to the opening ofthe pipe connection B where it enters the tank A. On the upper enlargedrim of the shell 10 is positioned an annular disk member or cover 11which is of novel construction. At its lower inner periphery, thisannular member has an annular projection or strangler 12, the out-Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 19, 1915.

Serial No. 780,177.

side of which is adapted to form a valve seat On top of the annularmember 11 is posltioned a yoke having two uprights 13 and 14, which yokeis provided with an annular flange 15 at its base which sets on theannular disk member 11 and there by means of screws or bolts 16 whichpass through the flange 15, annular disk member 11 and enlarged rim ofthe shell 10, the yoke and disk member 11 are held in place. Extendingfrom one upright 13 to the other 11, there is a cross-piece 17 in thelower portion of the yoke and a cross-piece 18 in the upper portion.Each cross-piece has a central opening one in alinement with the other.Through these central openings of the cross-pieces 17 and 18, the valvestem 19 passes. The valve 21 has a central opening around the inner endof which is formed a tubular extension 21" which opening and extensionare internally screwthreaded to'receive the lower end 20 0f the valvestem 19, a nut 23 beingscrewed on the end 20 of the valve stem 19outside of the valve 21 to lock the same in place. A rim 241 is formedaround the outer periphery of the valve 21, which is of sufficient sizeto fit the valve seat around the outside of the strangler 12.

At the upper portion of the valve stem 19, a collar 25 is adjustablymounted. The

lower face of this adjustable collar 25 is adapted to engage one end ofa spiral spring 26 which encircles the valve stem 19 and at its lowerend sets about a projection 28 on the cross-piece 17. By means of thisspring 26, the valve stem 10 is normally held in raised position therebyto maintain the valve 21 against its seat in a closed position.

In the present form of the device, the no right 13 of the yoke extendshigher than the upright 14:. In the lower upright 13, there is anopening 29 outside of which are formed two ears only one, 30, beingshown. In the higher upright 14 just opposite the opening 29 there isprovided a second and longer opening 31. An arm 32 is passed throughthese openings 29 and 31 and operates therein, the one end of the arm 32being pivoted to the cars 30, by means of a pin 33. The arm 32 projectsa distance out of the opening 31 on which outer portion a weight 34: ismounted, adjustable along said arm 32. At the outer end of thearm 32, acable 35 is attached which is fastened to a float 36, at its other end.The float and its fastening means form a novel arrangement. The float 36is fastened to the top wall of the tank A by a second cable 37. ll iththis valve, the weight arm will need to descend but a short distance toopen the valve. YVhen the float 36 allows the weight arm to descend thatdistance, the float has performed its function and need descend nofarther. Thus, by meansof cable 8?, the float 36 will always be inposition to close the valve when the ater rises the required extent.

In the operation of the device, when the tank A is filled as shown inFig. 1, the valve is in closed position being held in such po sition bythe water pressure against its bottom and the upward pull of the float36 on the arm 32. As soon as a faucet or an outlet on one of thesprinkler arms is opened, the decrease in pressure on the bottom of thevalve 21 will pull down the valve, the weight 34 assisting by pressingon the valve stem 19 against the upward pressure of the spring 26 andthe float 36. The water will continue to flow out until the tank A isempty, and the valve will remain in open position until the pump isstarted to reflll the tank and remain in such open position untilsuflicient water has entered to raise the float and thereby to exercisean upward pull on the weight arm 32 to automatically place the valve ina closed position. When this upward pull has commenced, the strangler 12will come into play. When the valve has raised a suflicient distance,the water entering the tank will flow over the rim 9A and strike thestrangler 12, thereby acting to retard the upward movement of the valveand thus permit the valve to close slowly and prevent the occurrence ofthe so-called water hammer.

While there is herein shown and described but one embodiment of thepresent invention, it is to be understood that various changes andmodifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the general scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a shell arranged at the endof a pipe connection opening into a tank, a closure for the open end ofthe shell, said closure having an opening therethrough in alinement withthe pipe connection, a flange depending from the closure, andencompassing the opening, a valve seat encompassing the base of theflange and spaced some distance from the free end of the flange, a valvestem pass-- ing through the opening, a guide for the stem outside of theshell, an upwardly opening cup shaped valve connected with the valvestem and arranged Within the shell,

the bottom of the valve being disposed between and in alinement with thepipe connection and the said opening, the diameter of the inside of thevalve being greater than the exterior diameter of the flange, said valveencompassing and housing the flange and adapted to rest upon the valveseat, the exterior wall of the flange and the end of the flange beingmaintained out of contact with the valve to maintain a water spacetherebetween and surrounding the flange, means tending normally to movethe valve to the valve seat, and means for unseating the valve againstthe stress of the first recited means.

2. In a device of the character described, a shell arranged at the endof a pipe connection opening into a tank, a closure for the open end ofthe shell, said closure having an opening therethrough in alinement withthe pipe connection, a flange depending from the closure, andencompassing the opening, a valve seat encompassing the base of theflange and spaced some distance from the free end of the flange, a valvestem passing through the opening, a guide for the stem outside of theshell, an upwardly opening cup shaped valve connected with the valvestem and arranged within the shell, the bottom of the valve beingdisposed between and in alinement with the pipe connection and the saidopening, the diameter of the inside of the valve being greater than theexterior diameter of the flange, said valve encompassing and housing theflange and adapted to rest upon the valve seat, the exterior wall of theflange and the end of the flange being maintained out of contact withthe valve to maintain a water space therebetween and surrounding theflange, elastic means tending normally to move the valve to the valveseat, a lever adapted to act upon the valve stem for unseating the valveagainst the stress of the said elastic means, a weight adjustable uponthe lever, and a float connected with the lever and adapted to move thelatter against the stress of the weight.

3. In a device of the character described, a shell arranged at the endof a pipe connection opening into a tank, a closure for the open end ofthe shell, said closure having an opening therethrough in alinement withthe pipe connection, a flange depending from the closure, andencompassing the opening, a valve seat encompassing the base of theflange and spaced some distance from the free end of the flange, a valvestem passing through the opening, a guide for the stem outside of theshell, an upwardly opening cup shaped valve connected with the valvestem and arranged within the shell, the bottom of the valve beingdisposed between and in alinement with the pipe connection and thesecond opening, the

diameter of the inside of the valve being greater than the exteriordiameter of the flange, said valve encompassing and housing the flangeand adapted to rest upon the valve seat, the exterior wall of the flangeand the end of the flange being maintained out of contact with the valveto maintain awater space therebetween and surrounding the flange,elastic means tendingnormally to move the valve to the valve seat,

a lever adapted to act upon the valve stem for unseating the valveagainst the stress of the said elastic means, a weight adjustable uponthe lever, a float connected with the lever, and adapted to move thelatter 5 against the stress of the weight, and means operating tosupport the float to limit the movement of the lever by the weight.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specificationin the presence 20 of two witnesses.

GEORGE H. BEEBE.

Witnesses ANNA 0001:, B. P. COLLINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. G.

